Boom



March 8, 1938. R. H. ZEILMAN BOOM Filed Feb. 5, 1937 Patented Mar. 8, 1938 UNITED STATES BOOM Roy H. Zeilman, Lorain, Ohio,

assignor to Thew Shovel Company, Lorain, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application February 3, 1937, Serial No. 123,829

5 Claims.

This invention relates to boom construction, and more particularly to a boom construction having relatively hingeable portions.

The demand for high speed, low cost transportation for power shovels and the like has resulted in mounting these units, including booms, upon motor trucks and in traveling the boom is projected forwardly over the driver's cab of the truck. Due to the length of boom required to properly effect the functions required of power shovels and the like and the necessity of providing clearance for the drivers cab, the conventiona1 boom would have its outer end elevated to a point where necessary overhead traveling clearance, particularly on city streets, could not be provided. This means that if a boom of the desired length is retained, it must be transported separately by another conveyance than the motor truck upon which the power unit and associated mechanism is mounted and thereby involve dismantling of the boom at one point and reassembly at another.

I have devised a boom adapted to a power unit mounted on a motor truck having a hinged construction generally centrally of the boom whereby in normal operation the boom is rigid and of conventional form and in traveling, portions of the boom are angularly disposed with the inner portion elevated to clear the drivers cab and the outer portion extended generally horizontally to clear overhead obstructions encountered in travel.

It is an object of my invention therefore to provide a boom construction having portions hingingly secured together whereby the portions may have a common axis or different angularly disposed axis.

Another object of my invention is to provide a boom adapted to a power unit mounted on a motor truck and wherein one portion of the boom may be elevated to.clear the driving compartment of the truck and another portion may be extended generally horizontally from the elevated portion requiring a minimum of overhead clearance.

Another object of my invention is to provide a boom of conventional straight form for normal operative conditions and for travel, the outer boom portion may be extended generally horizontally relative to an elevated inner boom portion.

Another object of my invention is to provide a two-part boom adapted to have both parts rigidly secured together along a common axis and provided with means whereby the relative relation of the parts may be quickly and simply altered to dispose the parts relatively angularly.

Other objects of my invention and the invention itself will become increasingly apparent from a consideration of the following description and drawing wherein:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view mainly diagrammatic of a load handling unit mounted on a motor truck and having a boom embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan view of a portion of the boom illustrated in Fig. 1 adjusted for normal boom operation;

Fig. 3 is an elevational view of the boom structure illustrated in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a section taken along the lines 4-4 of Fi 2;

Figsrfi and 6 are plan and elevational views respectively of a link unit which I may employ and Fig. 7 is a fragmentary elevational View of the boo-m of Fig. 3 with the link unit of Figs. 5 and 6 incorporated therein.

Referring to the drawing, I have illustrated in Fig. 1, a motor truck I!) having a load handling unit mounted thereon and comprising a base ll rigidly secured to the truck frame and a superstructure |2 including a boom l3 rotatable on the base I l. The truck I!) is preferably equipped with pneumatic tires rather than the usual caterpillar tread and the truck may be moved from one job to another at regular motor truck speed and considerably faster than a truck of the endless tread type which is usually transported on a flat car or a specially designed motor truck.

The boom l3 of the unit if used with a crane may be of a length such as 25 feet and if used with a shovel may be of a length such as 16 feet dependent upon operating conditions. The boom is hinged at its foot to the superstructure in the usual manner and at its outer end is supported by cables 14 reeved through suitable sheaves 15 at the boom end, the cables l4 being secured to a hoist drum or the like in the usual manner operable from a suitable power source.

The driving compartment is preferably enclosed by an all-weather cab generally indicated at It since the unit will be operating and travelmg under adverse weather conditions a large share of the time and a cab of this type is necessary to afford proper protection to the operator. In moving from one location to another, the truck can travel at usual motor truck speed and the boom :3 is projected forwardly to extend over the drivers cab and obviously the boom must be elevated under the control of the supporting cables I4 sufliciently to provide clearance between the boom and the driver's cab. However, if this is done with the conventional boom, the outer end of the boom is elevated to a point where the required clearance for overhead obstructions encountered particularly in city travel is not provided. In order to afford proper clearance for the drivers cab, as previously explained, and at the same time to provide low traveling clearance, I provide a hinged construction generally centrally of the boom which will now be described.

The boom comprises a portion l1 hinged at its lower end to the turntable in the usual manner and a portion l8 carrying the sheaves I5, the two portions being connected. The portions are each of the usual fabricated construction comprising four spaced longitudinally extending angles interconnected by diagonal tie rods to provide a box-like boom structure. The uppermost angles of portion ll, indicated at l9, are connected to the lower angles 20 by means of vertically extending angles 2I2I having the end portions of one leg cut back to provide proper clearance with angles l9 and 20 as indicated at 22 and the other leg is disposed externally of the upstanding legs of angles l9 and 20 and riveted thereto as indicated at 23. The angles 2| are interconnected by a transversely extending plate or diaphragm 24 which is riveted thereto as indicated at 25 and also secured by welding as indicated at 26. Four connecting elements 21 are secured to the boom portion l1, one at each corner thereof and comprise a generally right angle portion 28 projected within the angles I9 and 2B and riveted thereto and an outwardly extending yoke portion 28.

The element 21 is preferably riveted to angles 0 I9 and 20 with rivets 38 which also secure tie rods indicated at 3| and 32 thereto thus affording a relatively simple assembly arrangement for this part of the boom portion.

The boom portion l8 has the inner ends fabricated in a generally similar manner whereby a plate 33 is secured to angles 34 which, in turn, are riveted or otherwise secured to the upper and lower boom angles 35 and 36. The plates or diaphragms 24 and 33 act as stiffening elements for the confronting ends of boom portions l1 and I8. A cooperating hinge element 31 is secured to each corner of boom portion l8 in a manner similar to the element 28 and is provided with a perforated (ye portion adapted to be projected within the voke of element- 28 permitting pins 38 to be projected through aligned perforations provided in elements 23 and 31 to interlock the boom portions. Locking pins 39 may be employed to prevent accidental removal of pins 38. There are four interlocking zones which provide a rigid joint relatively light in weight, providing a boom of conventional straight form for normal operating conditions.

During travel, it is necessary, as previously described to have the outer boom portion l8 angularly disposed relative to portion I! or generally horizontally extending and this is effected by means of a link element 40 comprising an eye portion 4| at one end and of U-form at the opposite end having the U-leg provided with transversely aligned perforations as indicated at 42. The links 40 are adapted to interconnect the top main angles IQ of portion I! with the top main angles 35 of portion I8 and which is effected by removing the pins 38 and inserting the eye portion 4| of link 4! within the yoke of element 21 and projecting pins 38 therethrough and also projecting the eye portion of element 3! within the U-portion of link 40 and inserting similar pins 38 therethrough. It is understood that if the plates 24 and 33 are interconnected that the connecting means therebetween will be dismantled prior to inserting the link 40. The additional length afforded by the link 40 will dispose the outer portion l8 of the boom substantially horizontally with the inner portion l'l elevated sufficiently to clear the driver's cab. The boom can be easily changed from the conventional boom to the hinged boom merely by supporting the inner boom portion H to maintain it elevated and employing the supporting cables I4 to relatively lower the outer portion I8 after pins 38 have been removed to quickly and easily adjust the boom portions about the lower pins 38 as an axis to permit insertion of the link 40. Upon removal of link 40 it is a relatively simple matter to draw the outer end of the boom portion l8 upwardly until the boom portions l1 and I8 are aligned permitting reinsertion of pins 38 to interlock elements 28 and 31 and provide the conventional boom for normal operating.

Although I have shown and described a preferred embodiment of my invention, I contemplate that numerous and extensive departures may be made therefrom without departing from the spirit of my invention and the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A two part boom adapted to a load handling machine mounted on a motor truck having a forwardly disposed driving compartment and comprising a portion adapted to be pivotally connected at its foot to the machine, the said pivotal connection being a. substantial distance below the top of the driving compartment, a portion hingingly secured to the first portion about a transverse axis generally centrally of the boom and adjacent the lower face thereof, the outer end of the second portion being adapted to have supporting cables associated therewith controlling elevating movement of the boom, the boom portions normally being detachably secured together adjacent the upper face of the boom and generally centrally thereof whereby both portions have a common longitudinal axis, and link means adapted to connect the upper faces of said portions whereby each of said portions will have an independent longitudinal axis intersecting at the hinging zone permitting the first portion to be extended upwardly and outwardly to clear the driving compartment, of the truck, and its associated portion to be extended generally horizontally to clear overhead road obstructions.

2. A two-part boom associated with a load handling machine mounted on a motor truck having a forwardly disposed driving compartment, the boom comprising a portion pivotally secured at its foot to the machine with the boom foot being disposed a substantial distance below the top of the driving compartment, the outer end of said portion being adapted to extend forwardly of the driving compartment, a second portion hingingly secured to the first portion about a transverse axis adjacent the lower face of the boom, the outer end of the second portion being adapted to have supporting cables associated therewith controlling elevating movement of the boom, means rigidly interconnecting the boom portions comprising yoke elements in one boom portion,

eye elements in the other boom portion, and pin means detachably connecting the yoke and eye elements, and link means adapted to be inserted between the yoke and eye elements and detachably connected thereto to alter the relative position of the boom portions.

3. The combination with a motor truck havin a rotatable load handling power unit mounted on a rear portion of the truck frame, a forwardly disposed driving compartment, a boom, and cables operable by the powerunit supporting the boom at its outer end, of means detachably interconnecting an inner and outer portion of the boom generally centrally of the boom, said means comprising cooperating yoke and eye elements on the upper and lower faces of the boom portions, detachable pin means connecting the yoke and eye elements to provide a rigid boom under operating conditions, and link means adapted to be detachably connected to the upper yoke and eye elements for travel whereby the inner boom portion may be hinged rearwardly of and below the driving compartment and project upwardly and forwardly thereof, and the outer boom portion may be inclined toward a horizontal position to provide a maximum overhead clearance.

4. A two part boom adapted to a load handling machine mounted on a motor truck having a forwardly disposed driving compartment and comprising a first portion adapted to be hingingly secured at its foot to the machine, the said hinging connection being a substantial distance below the top of the driving compartment, a second boom portion having an outer end adapted to have supporting cables associated therewith controlling elevating movement of the boom, the boom portions normally being secured together generally centrallythereof whereby both portions have a common longitudinal axis, the portions being connected together by a hinging connection in the central portion thereof whereby link means may be inserted to dispose the said portions in angular relation whereby each of said portions will have an independent longitudinal axis intersecting at the hinging zone permitting the first portion to be extended upwardly and outwardly to clear the driving compartment of the truck, and its associated portion to be extended generally horizontally to clear overhead road obstructions.

5. A two-part boom adapted to a load-handling machine transportable by a truck having a forwardly disposed driving compartment, the boom comprising a first portion adapted to be hingingly secured at its foot to the machine and at a substantial distance below the top of the driving compartment, 2. second boom portion having an outer end adapted to having supporting tables associated therewith controlling elevating movement of the boom, the boom portions being normally secured together generally centrally thereof whereby both portions have a common longitudinal axis, the portions being connected together by hinging connections and adapted to have link means inserted to dispose said portions in angular relation, whereby each of said portions will have an independent longitudinal axis intersecting at the hinging zone, permitting the first portion to be extended upwardly and outwardly to clear the driving compartment of the truck, and its associated portion to be extended generally horizontally to clear overhead road obstructions.

ROY H. ZEILMAN. 

